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Member Dies in Colorado Switching Accident

October 10, 2014 A SMART Transportation Division member was killed on the job Wednesday (Oct. 9) afternoon in a railroad switching accident at a Colorado Springs, Colo., industrial complex. According to media reports, BNSF Railway conductor Dawn Trettenero, 42, was trapped between two rail ca [...]

Tags BNSF Railway, Dawn Trettenero

Woman killed after being pinned between rail cars

October 9, 2014 A 42-year-old woman died after being trapped between two train cars in a southeast Colorado Springs industrial complex Wednesday, Colorado Springs police and fire officials said. Officials have ruled the death an industrial accident. Read the complete story at The Gazette.

Tags BNSF Railway

Railroads sue California over new crude oil rules

October 9, 2014 California’s two major railroad companies have filed suit in federal court challenging a state law requiring railroads to come up with an oil spill prevention and response plan. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court in Sacramento, contends federal laws largely [...]

Tags BNSF Railway, California, crude oil, Union Pacific

STB orders more extensive reporting from rails

October 9, 2014 FARGO, N.D. – Grain elevator and agriculture groups are cautiously optimistic that a more extensive reporting system for railroads, ordered Oct. 8 by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, will at least allow agricultural shippers to see whether they’re getting the same kind [...]

Tags STB, Surface Transportation Board

NTSB Examines Recent Surge In Rail Worker Deaths

October 9, 2014 The National Transportation Safety Board Sept. 24 issued a special investigation report on the recent increase in deaths of railroad and rail transit roadway workers on or near tracks and made recommendations to reduce the number of fatalities. The Special Investigation Repor [...]

Rail Healthcare Open Enrollment Online until Nov. 1

October 8, 2014 Railroad employees covered under National Railway Carriers/UTU Health and Welfare Plan or the Railroad Employees’ National Health and Welfare Plan were mailed a notification of the online open enrollment period that began Oct. 1, 2014, and ends Nov. 1, 2014. The information s [...]

Tags health care, National Railway Carriers/UTU Health and Welfare Plan, open enrollment, Railroad Employees’ National Health and Welfare Plan

Pa. School Bus Employees Pick Up Three-year Deal

October 8, 2014 SMART Transportation Division members employed by First Student, Inc., in Southeastern Pennsylvania have ratified a new three-year contract, retroactive to June 2014 The contract covers SMART members of Local 172 at Darby, Pa., working in school bus operations until June 30, [...]

Tags Calvin Studivant, Denise Hall, First Student, Kathleen Sitongia, Local 172, Theresa Costantini

Members at Terminal Railroad ASD Approve Contract

October 8, 2014 SMART Transportation Division-represented trainmen and yardmasters employed by the Terminal Railroad Alabama State Docks have ratified a new six-year agreement by an overwhelming majority. The new agreement provides for six, three percent annual general wage increases retroac [...]

Tags Terminal Railroad Alabama State Docks

Lake Terminal Railroad Employees Ink Six-year Deal

October 8, 2014 SMART Transportation Division-represented trainmen, engineers and yardmasters employed by Lake Terminal Railroad have ratified a new six-year agreement by a unanimous vote. The agreement provides for six annual wage increases, beginning July 1, 2013, and rolls in previous cos [...]

Tags Lake Terminal Railroad

BNSF ordered to pay $30k for retaliation

October 8, 2014 DENVER – Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC retaliated against a Mandan, North Dakota, worker in December 2013 after he reported a work-related injury and submitted a physician’s treatment plan, according to an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupat [...]

Tags BNSF, OSHA